Build Middle Ground For South Africa

August 28, 1985|By Nancy Landon Kassebaum, Washington Post

WASHINGTON — I oppose general economic sanctions against South Africa for one simple reason: They will not work and, in fact, could be highly counterproductive to the long-term goals we seek to advance.

For one thing, the South African government has too many tools available to either blunt or avoid the most serious effects of unilateral American sanctions. The result could be that American companies, which operate under the Sullivan principles governing the treatment of blacks, would soon be replaced by other foreign companies, or South African ones, with little or no concern for improving the status of blacks. For another, there is nothing in South Africa's history to suggest that the white minority will respond any better to anger and frustration than it does to hope and cooperation.

Proponents of economic sanctions argue that by aiding the South African economy, we are effectively aiding apartheid. That certainly is one way to look at U.S. investments there, if one simply ignores the fact that American companies operating under the Sullivan principles are one of the few sources of evolutionary change in South Africa. These companies are providing good jobs at fair pay for thousands of blacks who might otherwise have no hope at all. In a real sense, we should be doing everything possible to provide more such jobs, more education, better housing and more hope for black South Africans, not less.

In that regard, the legislation pending in Congress contains a number of worthwhile features. It offers increased funding for black scholarships and for human-rights efforts in South Africa. It seeks to support black-owned businesses. It also makes clear our impatience with the lack of progress by calling for selective sanctions focused on the government of South Africa.

While no one claims this legislation is perfect, as a whole it moves in the right direction. It supports forces of internal change in South Africa while taking a more assertive approach toward the South African government.

Events in South Africa over the past few months indicate that the situation there is becoming increasingly polarized. Extremism and an all-or- nothing mentality seem to be growing among both whites and blacks. I believe the United States must aggressively work to reverse this trend. We must object to extremism and violence, whether it comes from the government or from its opposition.

We must not be placed in the position either of defending the status quo, which is indefensible, or of supporting its immediate overthrow, which could occur only through violent upheaval and extraordinary suffering. Instead, we must support every effort to build a middle ground where peaceful change can take root and grow, to the lasting benefit of all South Africans.